"Two legs: good. Two wheels: terrorist suspect"

From the "beyond satire" file. Back in May, but only reported in the Press last month, a woman was arrested under the Terrorism Act in Dundee for walking on a public cycle path between Broughty Ferry and Dundee through the dockside. She was held in a cop shop for several hours as a "terrorist suspect" before being released, and only recently was informed that the Procurator Fiscal wasn't going to prosecute her. Said the harbourmaster of Dundee Port:

"We contacted the police in regards to this matter because the woman was in a secure area which forbids people walking. It was seen as a security risk. We were following guidelines in requirement with the port security plan set up by the Government."

So, it's ok to cycle along the path as slow as you like, but walk and you're a "security risk". Presumably the authorities figure that a terrorist couldn't case the docks for an attack whilst cycling by. What this means is that a puncture could turn you from a stand-up citizen into a terrorist suspect.

Funny, I'm sure that we were assured by the Dear Leader and Big Scrotum that terrorism legislation would only be used in cases of, well, terrorism...

Partly inspired by this shining example of sinister State lunacy, the Dundee Social Forum has called a demo for this Saturday:

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Demonstration to Defend Democracy

Saturday 19th Nov

Assemble 10.45am in Car Park adjacent to Custom House
(at Dundee Dock next to Arnold Clark, behind bus station)

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Two legs: good. Two wheels: terrorist suspect. Times, 17/10/05

Reaction from a cycling forum (sadly, a few of the dimwits actually approve of pedestrians being arrested for the crime of walking on a cycle path)

Channel 4 special report (includes TV interview)